2008 starts on Monday

[Jaded No More 57,630]

Interesting article in the HS this morning, which mentions the following:

- Neita, TJ, Green and Bell likely to miss this week through injury (Bell- 4 weeks with the hamstring, Green and Neita with knee)

- Bartram's season is over

- The club is contemplating sending 2-3 other players to have season-ending surgeries

- Rivers could be back next week (unlikely?)

Riley is clearly keen to play some kids and is looking to "make sure no one goes into their shell or plays for themselves".

I for one am really looking forward to see how the next 9 weeks unfold.

We'll be preparing for next season, getting all our injured players fit and ready to take part in a big pre-season, looking at players who are at a risk of being traded/delisted, and of course introducing what's left of our untried kids.

Hopefully at the end of this process we'll have a clear idea of who stays and who goes, and that might very well apply to Riley too.

If he does a good job, he's every chance to stay on and coach us full time next year. I just hope he is actually as ruthless as they made him sound in the article, because there is no doubt we need a major shake-up.

Bring on 2008!

You can read the rest of the article HERE

[WonnaJurah 5]

which players will be sent for surgery

im thinking wheatley and maybe robbo

[Jaded No More 57,630]

which players will be sent for surgery

im thinking wheatley and maybe robbo

No idea, and there is no mention of that.

Not sure Robbo's knee requires surgery.

My guess would be Wheatley, Yze and maybe Neita if they decide to postpone his 300th till next season.

Or maybe they'll operate on Bruce's feet to get him kicking straight again

[WonnaJurah 5]

good one Jaded

[Pates 9,536]

It's now we get a real idea of just how much of the season from hell this is. Bloody gutsy effort from Neitz to get out there and kick three goals, as soon as he kicked his third i saw him clutch his knee and i knew we wouldn't see him for a while and i had a bad feeling about the night.

People talk about how great the Essendon side of 2000 was, don't get me wrong i was in awe of their increadible run, but i wonder how that side would've done with the same injuries we've had this year? Getting a good squad is one part of the equation, but until we get some luck as well we won't get that elusive premiership.

[DV8 2,271]

No idea, and there is no mention of that.

Not sure Robbo's knee requires surgery.

My guess would be Wheatley, Yze and maybe Neita if they decide to postpone his 300th till next season.

Or maybe they'll operate on Bruce's feet to get him kicking straight again

He needs more than a foot op'. He needs a transplant.

[occo 2]

Lets play every young player and not win another game. If we lose the priority pick i will kill someone

[demon magik 0]

lets hope we actually play the young players more ... usually coaches do come out and say this sort of stuff and it doesnt happen all the time....

i want to see newton still play frawley come back... and maybe neaves i mean hell we got jack [censored] to lose why not...

[45HG 1,539]

maybe to fix bruce's brain, though i suppose that's more of an exploratory mission than surgery

[grazman 6,414]

No idea, and there is no mention of that.

Not sure Robbo's knee requires surgery.

My guess would be Wheatley, Yze and maybe Neita if they decide to postpone his 300th till next season.

Or maybe they'll operate on Bruce's feet to get him kicking straight again

I'm pretty certain that Wheater's dislocated his shoulder earlier in the season, he is clearly inconvenienced by it and it'd be pretty short odds that he needs surgery to fix it properly.

I am very, very encouraged by the article and hope that CJ gets a real opportunity to play in the ones to make an objective assessment on. Garland too if he keeps going should be given a crack in his new defensive role.

[Guest redandbluethruandthru]

sick to death of all the bruce bagging here. he is up and down in form this year. seems to me he is playing a different role this year. sure his kicking has been ordinary to say the least but that is fixable. he is a very talented player who gives his all. this is the first time i can remember in all the years he has played that his form has dropped. It cant be easy to bust your ass every week just to have worthless unskilled players undo all his hard work.( Im talking Brown among others here.) once we get a decent list together with a solid backline and damaging midfield i see bruce moving forward to shark bags of goal ala Milne. FFS this thread is about Riley blooding young players not wanksta baying for bruces blood.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,169]

sick to death of all the bruce bagging here. he is up and down in form this year. seems to me he is playing a different role this year. sure his kicking has been ordinary to say the least but that is fixable. he is a very talented player who gives his all. this is the first time i can remember in all the years he has played that his form has dropped. It cant be easy to bust your ass every week just to have worthless unskilled players undo all his hard work.( Im talking Brown among others here.) once we get a decent list together with a solid backline and damaging midfield i see bruce moving forward to shark bags of goal ala Milne. FFS this thread is about Riley blooding young players not wanksta baying for bruces blood.

Agree 100% Red and Blue. Well spoken, you obviously have INTELLIGENCE!

[Rogue 585]

hope that CJ gets a real opportunity to play in the ones to make an objective assessment on

Same. Sylvia, Jamar, and other players have had chances to cement their spot in the team. I hope now that CJ gets an extended run in the seniors and has a chance to settle in and show us what he's got.

[drdrake 3,035]

I don't know about Bruce's kicking being fixable, it actually seems to be getting worse every season, but he is not he only one, a majority of our tea has struggled to hit targets this year, we may be fit but our skills are well below what is required.

Difficult spot for Riley, he wants to impress to enhance his chances of coaching next year and he also will be under pressure to play the younger guys. I would be confident the Buckley will play next week, CJ will be close and I'd like to see Garland down back from all accounts he has been playing well down back for Sandy. Add in Frawley and they are the only kids we have to come in.

[Nicho 1]

sick to death of all the bruce bagging here. he is up and down in form this year. seems to me he is playing a different role this year. sure his kicking has been ordinary to say the least but that is fixable. he is a very talented player who gives his all. this is the first time i can remember in all the years he has played that his form has dropped. It cant be easy to bust your ass every week just to have worthless unskilled players undo all his hard work.( Im talking Brown among others here.) once we get a decent list together with a solid backline and damaging midfield i see bruce moving forward to shark bags of goal ala Milne. FFS this thread is about Riley blooding young players not wanksta baying for bruces blood.

Ill be first to admit i am once of Bruces harshest critics...

However the simple summary is this; Yes he is overrated but by know means should be traded. He is too important to ask and utilities like him are the most valuable commodities......

[Madness 44]

Ill be first to admit i am once of Bruces harshest critics...

However the simple summary is this; Yes he is overrated but by know means should be traded. He is too important to ask and utilities like him are the most valuable commodities......

So if you could get Judd you wouldn't trade him? Funny man you are...

[Rogue 585]

Difficult spot for Riley, he wants to impress to enhance his chances of coaching next year and he also will be under pressure to play the younger guys. I would be confident the Buckley will play next week, CJ will be close and I'd like to see Garland down back from all accounts he has been playing well down back for Sandy. Add in Frawley and they are the only kids we have to come in.

Dunn and Warnock (not sure you'd call him a 'kid', but he's inexperienced) immediately come to mind.

[Guest redandbluethruandthru]

judd wont be an option. west coast will sack 3/4 of their list if they had to to keep him

[Forest Demon 4,681]

wat about miller? i think there is a big chance he will be traded. He is a brisbane boy and the lions could certainly use another big forward. If he plays well (???), he either saves his spot on the list or increases his trade value.

[Gorgoroth 12,305]

sick to death of all the bruce bagging here. he is up and down in form this year. seems to me he is playing a different role this year. sure his kicking has been ordinary to say the least but that is fixable. he is a very talented player who gives his all. this is the first time i can remember in all the years he has played that his form has dropped. It cant be easy to bust your ass every week just to have worthless unskilled players undo all his hard work.( Im talking Brown among others here.) once we get a decent list together with a solid backline and damaging midfield i see bruce moving forward to shark bags of goal ala Milne. FFS this thread is about Riley blooding young players not wanksta baying for bruces blood.

yep his kicking has been terrible and some of his desicion making too, but when your kicking bad you sometimes try to hard and end up getting worse, bruce like green last year will bounce back

but back on track

I want riley to look at the way geelong are running and try and get us to do the same and FFS never leave llyod and lucas in the F50 by them selves!

[Nicho 1]

So if you could get Judd you wouldn't trade him? Funny man you are...

Well if you think its realistic to get Juddey then by all means trade Brucey. and for a sweetner chuck in Nanthan Brown, Holland and Godfrey too

[grazman 6,414]

judd wont be an option. west coast will sack 3/4 of their list if they had to to keep him

That works for me as well.... I'd love Judd, but not if it seriously cripples the rest of the list. If West Coast can't afford to pay some of their younger players coming out of contract more money, other's will swoop.

[Rogue 585]

Well if you think its realistic to get Juddey then by all means trade Brucey. and for a sweetner chuck in Nanthan Brown, Holland and Godfrey too

When there are only limited spots on AFL lists I fail to see how that'd be a sweetener for WCE